top of page
Branch Lines Logo1.png
Christmas ads Santa train.png

December 2024

Diesels in the snow at the TMD, late November. SALLY SHELDON.jpg
Diesels in the snow at the TMD, late November. SALLY SHELDON

Welcome to your latest edition of Branch Lines!

​

December is such a special time at the Railway, and this year is no different. Our Christmas services are in full swing, and everyone’s working flat out to make sure our visitors have the best experience we can deliver. Of course, it’s just as busy behind the scenes, even on days when we’re not open to the public, and in this issue, we give you an insight into some of the areas where vital work is going on, beyond the public gaze. 

​

Our lead story for December is the momentous announcement that the Severn Valley Railway has launched its plan for a structural transformation. The plan is the result of years of careful investigation, deliberation and decision-making, and comes with the backing of all the directors of SVRH and SVRG. You can discover more about it below, and if you’re an SVR shareholder or member, you’ll soon receive a full information pack in the post about the proposed changes. 

​

Next year is Railway 200 year, and it’s no surprise that the SVR is flying the flag for the 200th anniversary of the birth of modern railways. On 1 January, one of our steam locos will ‘whistle off’ the start of the year-long celebrations at Bridgnorth at 12 noon. There’s plenty more happening in 2025 for Railway 200, and of course for the 60th anniversary of the SVR itself – watch this space for more details. 

​

We received a heartening comment from reader John Wilcox last month. John wrote, ‘Yes, [November] is ‘twilight time’ on the Railway but from your reports there is obviously a ‘very well done’ due for all for the improvements and progress made. May the Christmas events bless your efforts for the work of the whole SVR team!’ 

​

From everyone at Branch Lines, the warmest of Christmas greetings, and best wishes for a very healthy and prosperous New Year! Please come and see us during our Festive Season services from Boxing Day onwards, or for the Winter Diesel Day or Winter Steam Gala. 

​

Lesley Carr, editor

The Branch Lines team is Lesley Carr, Karen Crick, Amy Baker, Gary Essex, 
Pete Cherry and Nicola Fox.

Next edition Thursday 16th January

What's new?

One Railway – a restructure plan for the SVR 

The Severn Valley Railway is seeking approval from its shareholders and members for a radical organisational restructure. It describes this as a ‘bold and essential move’, which will bring multiple benefits. The plan is to bring together the three separate companies that currently make up the SVR, into a new ‘One Railway’ structure. The aim is to create a stronger, more vibrant and efficient operation, and to secure a robust future for the line. 

​

Chris Walton, the chair of Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Plc said: 

‘For the past two years, a working party of people who care deeply about the future of the SVR has been carrying out a strategic review of how the Railway might be better organised and positioned. Its conclusion is that the SVR urgently needs a new type of company structure, to ensure it’s in the best possible position to survive and thrive in the years to come.’  

​

In the plan set out by the SVR, the first step would see the conversion of Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Plc, into a Charitable Community Benefit Society, or CCBS.  

​

The newly formed CCBS would then amalgamate with the Severn Valley Railway Company Limited (also known as SVRG), the sister organisation that looks after membership and provides volunteers to help run the Railway.  

​

The third member of the SVR family, the Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust, is fully supportive of the plan, but cannot commit to the process at present, because it is itself in a period of transition. The plan provides for the inclusion of the SVRCT with the CCBS as soon as its circumstances allow. 

​

‘There’s no doubt that what we’re planning is bold,’ added Chris. ‘But it’s something that we consider to be absolutely essential, to ensure our Railway survives and prospers. 

​

‘In common with others in the heritage railway sector, we’ve faced a long and arduous struggle over the past few years, made worse by a number of factors. We’ve seen huge increases in costs, falls in income because of the Covid lockdown, followed by continuing reduced passenger numbers because of inflationary pressures on leisure spending, and a detrimental effect on membership and volunteering generally.’ 

​

Diane Malyon, the chair of SVRG, said:  

​

‘The tough times we’ve faced have highlighted significant weaknesses in our current structure that we can no longer ignore. As we look towards 2025 when we will celebrate our 60th year as a heritage railway, it’s clear that this is the time to change. We’re mindful of our proud past, but we need to look with confidence to the future. 

​

Gus Dunster, the managing director of SVRH explained:  

​

‘A CCBS will bring us many benefits. It should mean the SVR could claim Gift Aid on a large proportion of ticket sales. There’ll be significant savings in both compliance and administration costs. We’ll be able to avoid prospectus costs on any future share issues and potentially avoid having to pay business rates. These factors will add up to hundreds of thousands of pounds every year that can instead go to maintaining and improving the Railway itself. â€‹

‘The boards of SVRH and SVRG are united in the belief that converting to a Charitable Community Benefit Society is the right way forward for the Railway. Together, we are asking for the support of our shareholders, members and volunteers to bring about this much-needed change.’ 

​

The SVR is writing to its 12,800 active shareholders and 9,750 members to explain why it believes the changes are needed. It’s providing an in-depth information pack on the rationale for the plan to convert to a CCBS, and what the implications are for all the Railway’s stakeholders. 

​

It will also set up a series of meetings with shareholders, members and volunteers in early 2025 to discuss the plans. Voting on the two stages described in the railway’s restructure plan will take place at separate Extraordinary General Meetings of SVR (Holdings) Plc and the SVR Company Limited later in the year.  

​

Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

SVR ‘whistle off’ will mark the start of Railway 200 

On New Year’s Day, the Railway will join other UK heritage lines in a nationwide ‘whistle off’ to mark the start of Railway 200.  

​

Across the country, heritage locomotives will sound their whistles at 12 noon on 1 January 2025. This evocative rekindling of an old railway tradition has been coordinated by the Heritage Railway Association. It will signal the start of a year of events to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of modern railways.  

​

Railway 200 will run throughout 2025 and aims to inspire a new generation of young, pioneering talent to choose a career in rail. 

Performing the honours at the Severn Valley will be volunteer driver Mick Matthews and fireman Alex Robinson, on the footplate of an SVR steam locomotive.  

​

‘We’ll be at Bridgnorth station, waiting to depart with the southbound service to Kidderminster’ said Mick, who has been volunteering since 1992. ‘When we sound the whistle at noon, we’ll definitely be giving it some extra welly for this very important occasion! 

​

‘I feel really honoured to be representing the SVR for this celebration, as the Railway means so much to me. When I was going through treatment for cancer a few years ago, it was the hope of getting back to volunteering duties and the support of my friends and colleagues here that kept me going.’ 

​

Fireman Alex added, ‘Knowing that heritage loco crews across the UK will be all sounding their whistles at exactly the same time is a wonderful way of bringing us all together. What a privilege to be launching the start of Railway 200!’ 

​

The Railway will be taking part in a number of events during 2025 to mark Railway 200, and it will also be celebrating its own 60th anniversary. 

​

Festive Services run every day from 26 December through until 1 January, and there’s a two-day Winter Steam Gala on 4 and 5 January. For more information and to book tickets, visit svr.co.uk

​

Driver Mick Matthews whistles up with fireman Alex Robinson standing, as 75069 is prepared for the SVR's  Santa services in December. JOHN TITLOW

The footplate crew of  Mick Mathews and Alex Robinson will carry out the SVR's 'Whistle Off' on 1 January. JOHN TITLOW

SVR Resilience Fund pays for essential infrastructure works 

The SVR Resilience Fund was launched in June this year, as an ongoing initiative to raise money for the operation of the Railway. It’s led by the Severn Valley Railway Company Limited, also known as SVRG.  

​

To date, the SVR Resilience Fund has raised just over £88,000, of which £47,237 has now been allocated to essential projects on the Railway, as SVRG chair Diane Malyon explains: 

​

‘When we started the SVR Resilience Fund, we pledged to spend £50,000 on suitable projects during 2024, which will help to increase the Railway’s resilience.  

​

‘We’ve committed almost the full pledged amount, and the fact that all the projects are to do with infrastructure shows just how important, although costly, this element of operating the line is. 

​

‘All of the projects were essential but could not have been foreseen at the point where the annual budgets were set.’ 

​

  • £24,288 for 800 tonnes of track ballast 

  • £12,270 for new boreholes at Sterns, as part of the ongoing landslip investigations 

  • £6,650 for tarmac repairs to platform 1 at Bridgnorth, taking away a tripping hazard near the platform edge and completed just in time for the first Enchanted Express trains, and to fill in many of the potholes in the station car park 

  • £4,029 to dig new French drains* at Arley 

​

‘We aim is to pledge a similar amount from the SVR Resilience Fund each year,’ continued Diane, ‘But of course we need more donations. Please, if you are able, consider donating whatever you can afford, at svr.co.uk. We are extremely grateful for all the funds we have received so far, which are helping to keep the Railway running.’ 

*Explanatory note from head of infrastructure Chris Bond: ‘A French drain is basically a trench that is lined with a geotextile material. A perforated pipe is laid in the trench and then the whole lot is backfilled with ballast-sized stone. This allows surface water to drain into the pipe and be carried away. As you can see from the accompanying photos, the resulting reinstatement is so good that it is difficult to see where the work was done!’ 

​

Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

Other News

The BBC’s The Box of Delights, 40 years on at the SVR 

In 1984, the SVR featured in a highly successful children’s TV drama series, The Box of Delights, produced by the BBC. This year, the programme’s former child star and its producer returned to the Railway to film scenes for a documentary to mark its 40th anniversary. 

​

For Arley’s assistant stationmaster, Catherine Martin, the chance to be involved was a dream come true. Acting as ‘point contact’ for the film crew, Catherine’s job was to ensure their safety as well as escorting and assisting them for the day.   

​

 ‘As I had watched the original as a very young child,’ said Catherine, ‘and many times again in subsequent years, this was a real pleasure. 

‘The new documentary is called Time and Tide: Making The Box of Delights, and it follows the original star, Devin Stanfield (who played Kay Harker) and the producer Renny Rye, as they revisit many of the film locations 40 years on. 

​

‘First, we filmed a sequence on the train between Highley and Arley, showing off the beautiful scenery along the route.  Thereafter we spent the next few hours at Arley station filming, as it featured in quite a number of the original scenes 40 years before.  It was lovely to watch the various segments of filming, and it caused quite a bit of excitement amongst unsuspecting passengers and my staff at the station! 

​

‘Towards the end of filming, Devin suddenly produced a rather special prop from the original programme – the actual ‘Box of Delights’.  I was thrilled when Devin gave me the box to look after as can be seen in the photograph!  Sadly, the magic in it didn’t work on this occasion!

‘By the end of the day, the film crew were delighted with what they had done, alongside the use of a drone for additional footage, and were very grateful to the SVR for our help.’ 

​

The documentary is available only on the 40th anniversary DVD and Blu-ray sets now on sale. A 10-minute introduction by director Renny Rye can be streamed on BBC iPlayer, along with the original six-part series.  

​

The documentary opens with magnificent aerial scenes on the SVR, showing off the beauty of the Valley.  It includes many of the sequences filmed on the train and at Arley, before moving on to other locations used in the original. It features interesting interviews, funny stories and reveals some of the tricks of the trade from the world of TV and film.   

​

​Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

Funding update from the SVR Charitable Trust 

The Trust continues to provide funding on a broad range of projects: 

 

  • Excavator crane operator training for a member of paid staff on road-rail vehicles – to enable flexibility in the SVR workforce, and covered by the CT’s educational purposes criteria 

  •  Support towards the purchase of a newer Komatsu road-rail vehicle, which will help with maintaining the SVR’s infrastructure 

  • Rope-access inspections of three of the SVR’s masonry viaducts, carried out by  specialist surveyors  

  • Continued funding for GWR Coach 9581 on its journey to becoming an Access-for- All buffet car, now coming much nearer to fruition 

  • Transport costs of the Class 101 DMU from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway to Kidderminster 

 

Judith Meredith, the CT chair, said: 

 

‘We look forward to seeing the heritage DMU set running here. Bringing back memories of the 1950s and 1960s, it will be so appropriate to the history of the Severn Valley line. 

 

‘Our funding helps the Railway run. In turn, the SVR’s expenditure itself feeds into the local economy; we use many local businesses, such as Allelys who provided the road transport to move the DMU, and Rope Access Construction Surveyors Ltd, who carried out the viaduct inspections.   

  

‘We would like to thank everyone who has made a contribution to the SVRCT.’ 

Arrival of one of the Class 101 DMU vehicles at the SVR. JUDITH MEREDITH

Rope access inspection in progress. RACS LTD

Local mayors and councillors come to see Santa 

The SVR’s stations manager Ian Latimer took on the role of Mayor of Bewdley in June this year. He’s using the opportunity to help promote the Railway as widely as possible. 

​

Last Sunday, Ian invited a group of local mayors and council chairs to see for themselves what is involved in the Railway’s busy Santa train operation. 

​

The day included a tour of the winter wonderland at Kidderminster station, followed by a trip in the staff coach on the Santa train up to Arley. The group was shown the complex logistics of ‘present delivery’ on board the train, then disembarked to see the radio communications system in action, the panto show and paid a visit to the signal box. 

​

‘The guests were absolutely amazed at the extent and complexity of our operation,’ said Ian. ‘They met many volunteers and paid staff and chatted to them about their roles. Everywhere we went we saw people’s dedication and passion and all the guests told me how thoroughly impressed they were with the professionalism of the SVR. â€‹

Local mayors and council chairs come to see Santa at the SVR..jpg

‘Making connections with our local authorities is vital for the Railway. We’re a significant business and play an important role in the local economy. I was especially proud of our younger volunteers – they’re the future of the SVR, and they represented our organisation very well.’ 

​

The photo shows from left to right: Cllr Susan Rickhuss and Cllr Graham Rickhuss (chair of Upper Arley Parish Council), Cllr John Thomas (mayor of Stourport), Cllr John Byng (chair of Wyre Forest District Council), Cllr Tracey Onslow (chair of Worcestershire County Council), Cllr Ian Latimer (mayor of Bewdley) and Cllr Doug Hine (deputy mayor of Kidderminster) 

Engine House proves perfect setting for awards evening

The Railway’s Engine House was the venue for an awards event earlier this month, as part of the close partnership with Network Rail. 

​

NR Central Route held its Heart of Britain’s Railway awards ceremony, nestled amongst the locomotives on display at The Engine House. SVR managing director Gus Dunster attended on behalf of the Railway and said: 

​

‘I was proud to represent the Railway for this important occasion, and the SVR team did an amazing job. It was wonderful to see this iconic space playing its role very impressively.  

​

‘As you can see from the photo, it’s an amazing venue which provides a unique space for up to 220 guests.  I’d urge everyone to spread the word about the wonderful facilities we can provide here for businesses and private events, with a difference.’ 

​

For Engine House bookings, please contact nicky.freeman@svrlive.com  

​

Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

What's coming up?

Blast away the winter blues at the SVR! 

Looking beyond Christmas Day itself, there’s plenty to entice you to visit the Railway, including a one-day Diesel event and a two-day Winter Steam Gala. 

 

  • Thursday 26 - Sunday 29 December - Festive services 

  • Monday 30 December - Winter Diesel Day 

  • Tuesday 31 December - Wednesday 1 January - Festive services 

  • Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 January - Winter Steam Gala 

 

The timetable for the Winter Diesel Day is already live on the website and the Winter Steam Gala timetable will be available shortly.  

Plan your visit at svr.co.uk

 

Shareholder passes and vouchers are valid for all the above and member discount is also available. 

Steam on a frosty day. BOB GREEN

Steam on a frosty day - Credit_ BOB GREEN.jpg

Across the Railway

Enchanted Express is a sell-out and only limited availability on other Christmas services  

With the big day fast approaching, here is a quick update on the SVR festive season.   

 

The Enchanted Express is departing from Bridgnorth on weekends this month and on Christmas Eve. This hugely popular event is fully booked. 

  

Santa Trains depart from Kidderminster at weekends and on Christmas Eve this month, and as we go to press, there is only limited availability on the remaining dates. 

 

Santa train passengers are whisked away on a magical steam-train journey to Arley where they disembark for an all-new pantomime, featuring Jingle and Jangle in ‘The Great Christmas Mystery’. Feedback on Santa Trains has been great and includes an amazing review article in the Express and Star.  

 

This year’s festive dining experiences include Enchanted Afternoon Teas, Evening Santa Pie Trains (13 and 20 December) and a Festive Spice Train on 21 December.  If you haven’t yet booked your tickets, don’t delay because places are limited and there are only a few tables still available. Carol trains are completely sold out. 

 

There’s more information on all Christmas services at svr.co.uk

​

Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

A ‘new’ machine, that’s 45 years old! 

The machine shop at Bewdley is now the proud custodian of a relatively modern machine tool - a 45-year-old hand-milling machine! Bewdley volunteer Brian Hill gave us more details: 

​

‘Wow, it even has a digital display! Bringing us into the 1980s, this machine came to us from Bridgnorth MPD where it was surplus to requirements. Will Marsh kindly offered it to our volunteer-run machine shop, located next to the Rock Siding at Bewdley. The workshop is much used by loco, coach and wagon restoration groups, as well as the S&T department. 

​

‘On a very cold and snowy day in November, the machine was loaded onto a permanent-way flat wagon and transported to Bewdley, where it was off-loaded by the road-rail vehicle into the workshop. All went well with the transfer and within a few hours, and after some considerable manual handling, the machine was moved into its new location. 

​

‘Many thanks to paid staff Will Marsh, Dave Evans, Matt Robinson, Paul Ingram and Daniel Noy for their support to enable the transfer and installation of this very useful piece of equipment.’ 

​

Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

Teamwork creates storage room for on-train buffet department  

Volunteers from Network Rail recently spent a day transforming the redundant telephone exchange room at Bridgnorth into a storage and operating room for the on-train buffet department to use for the 2025 season.  

​

A casual conversation with infrastructure manager Chris Bond quickly progressed into transforming the 12 x 5ft room into a usable space. With donated shelving from the Motive Power Department, some rewiring by the electrical team along with materials from the 'Wailing Wall' station maintenance team at Bridgnorth and the paint shop, most of the resources needed were sourced from the Railway itself.  

​

This meant that just £300 was needed to purchase additional materials to complete the work. Several members of the loco department and Volunteer Accommodation Committee assisted with clearance of the space and recently recruited SVR Company Limited director and infrastructure adviser liaised with Network Rail and arranged for five of their volunteers to spend a day preparing the room for use.  

​

When on-train buffets restart from Bridgnorth, the expenditure should easily repay itself within the first month. The project has been achieved with minimal expense thanks to exemplary teamwork and co-operation. 

Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

Storm Darragh and clogged up drains are no match for the P-way teams 

Across the Railway, the infrastructure and permanent way teams have been carrying out the never-ending task of maintaining the formation, track and structures.  
 
Despite the severity of Storm Darragh, the SVR’s Santa and Enchanted Express services continued uninterrupted, thanks to the sterling efforts of the permanent way teams.  

 

On the mornings of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December, track inspections were carried out. Nine trees had fallen onto or were hanging dangerously over the track. One 70ft-tall pine tree near Bewdley tunnel had become uprooted and was laying across the boundary fence. The teams managed to clear the trees and debris before and between services with minimal interruption or delay to traffic, in a remarkable effort by all involved. 

 

The Drain Train has also been operating in the last two weeks, inspecting and clearing drains and culverts along the line and noting any problems that will need future attention. The hired jetting lorry was loaded onto GWR 'Loriot Y' Machinery Truck No 41990 at Eardington and worked along the section of line between Oldbury Viaduct (culvert 0), and Bewdley (Culvert 108), paying particular attention to Eymore Cutting, which has seen several instances of flooding during recent heavy rain.  

 
The Loriot well wagon was attached to Regent Oil Wagon No 345 for water supply and Brake Van WD 55577, hauled by 20048. 

 

Check out p-way volunteer Graham Murray’s blog post on svr.co.uk in which he gives an insight into his recent experience of guarding on one of the Drain Trains. 

​

Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

Harsco training exercise means huge track improvements 

As ever, the SVR continues to work with main line rail companies. In one current project, Harsco Rail are training new operators on their DR80207 vehicle, a multipurpose stone blower that is stabled in the siding at Foley Park.  

​

The hi-tech machine is used as an alternative to traditional tamping methods to adjust the track’s vertical and lateral alignment. It measures the alignment of the track and uses the data to inject small ballast chippings directly under sleepers by way of steel nozzles and compressed air to correct faults.  

​

This technique is especially useful on the SVR’s jointed track, smoothing out dipped joints, correcting twisting and height errors. All of this reduces the risk of damage to track and rolling stock, and improves the ride quality.  

​

Our work with Harsco allows their trainees to get real experience of operating on a railway without the restrictions of working on a busy main line, whilst the SVR benefits from significant improvements to the track. 

​

Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

Rolling stock

1501 – preservation before restoration 

Volunteers from the 1501 Pannier Tank Association and Bridgnorth MPD have been busy carrying out preservation activities of the engine, which is currently in store at Bridgnorth MPD.  

​

Brian Hill of the 1501 PTA reports: 

​

‘Last year, we cleaned out the bunker and gave it a protective layer of bitumastic. Despite being new at the last overhaul, the bunker had acquired a thick layer of rust and the preventative work will help maintain it in a good condition until it is next required. 

​

‘Next, we dismantled the cab floor, only to find 10 years’ worth of coal dust and rust sitting beneath. What was thought to be a quick sweep out turned into a major exercise. The floor was completely stripped, replacement parts fabricated for items corroded beyond repair, multiple coats of paint applied and eventually reassembled. Also in the cab, the fittings have been removed to storage and are undergoing refurbishment by volunteer Robin Padgett when time permits. 

​

‘The team has since dismantled the contents of the smokebox. Now emptied, this will allow easier access for boilersmiths to assess the condition of the boiler.’ 

​

‘The 1501 working group, based at Bewdley, have taken delivery of the components required to manufacture a new ashpan, and this will take place over the coming months. All this volunteer-led work is helping to preserve the condition of the loco and will better prepare it for when an overhaul can eventually commence.’ 

​

If you’d like to join the 1501 Pannier Tank Association or donate to support the loco, please get in touch with Brian Hill at the1501pta@outlook.com 

​

Click on the gallery for larger images and descriptions..

Behind the scenes at Bridgnorth MPD, it’s as busy as Santa’s workshop! 

The Railway is well and truly in the Christmas operating season, and volunteer shedmaster Martin White is keeping his fingers crossed that the recent hard work at Bridgnorth loco works will pay off for the service locomotives: 

​

We’ve put a huge amount of effort in to make sure the steam locos are in the best possible condition for our Christmas services. We’re hoping it will pay dividends and they won’t require much more work to keep them running over the festive period and into early 2025. 

​

However, looking after the service locos is just one aspect of the activities undertaken at Bridgnorth. Quietly and diligently, groups of volunteers and some paid staff continue to work on the two 2-6-2 tank engines in the works; the ‘new build’ BR standard class 3 tank 82045 and ex-GWR 4150.  

​

On the new build, work pushes ahead on the boiler, which is now having tubes fitted, and at the same time, work continues on a whole variety of components for the loco’s rolling chassis. These include pipework and motion components, along with some important technical activity, such as aligning the slide bars.  

​

The class 3 loco’s bigger and older sibling 4150, built in 1947, has seen the completion of the time-consuming job of fitting hundreds of rivets to the side tanks.  A significant amount of pipework has been fabricated and had a trial fitting onto the boiler, as have the cab fittings. In the near future, once both tanks are refitted and the cab roof tried out, much of it will be dismantled again in order for the boiler to be removed for finishing and initial testing.  

​

Neither of these locos is going to be completed imminently however. As always with steam locos, they will be ready when they are ready!  

​

Within the paint shop in Bridgnorth works, the tender from 2857 is being repainted into BR livery. This will be coupled to 7802 ‘Bradley Manor’ when that loco arrives back at Bridgnorth early in the New Year, following its overhaul at Tyseley. Also in the paint shop, parts of 813 have been repainted ahead of the manufacture of its new saddle tank. 

​

Contract work provides significant additional revenue to the Railway, and it takes place every day. The long-running overhaul of ‘Dunrobin’ continues both in the boiler shop and the mechanical works. Also in the boiler shop, Isle of Man Railway No 16 Mannin’s boiler is being reassembled, whilst Bluebell’s is at the start of its repair and is being stripped down. In the machine shop, recent commercial work has included a large set of valve liners for a big GWR locomotive and batches of brand-new GWR injectors. â€‹

Finally for this month, 0-4-2 tank loco 1450 has returned to SVR after overhaul at the Flour Mill loco workshops, and a brief appearance at the Avon Valley Railway in November. Plans are being drawn-up to conduct steam testing and trial runs, subject to all the necessary paperwork being checked and completed. I hope that by the time you read this, the little tanky will have ventured out into the wintery Severn Valley! 

​

1450 in the loco shed. MARTIN WHITE

82045's boiler in the boiler shop. MARTIN WHITE

People

The Railway welcomes new health and safety manager 

Sally Hill takes over as health and safety manager within the Railway’s senior leadership team on Tuesday 7 January. The role has been vacant for several months, since the departure of Richard Morris. 

​

Sally is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Safety and Health, and her professional career has spanned various sectors, including education and risk management consultancy, as well as volunteering with a number of charities. 

​

Managing director Gus Dunster said, ‘As we are aware, safety is the paramount consideration in everything we do as a Railway, and we’re delighted to welcome Sally. She is eager to bring her expertise in health and safety to the Severn Valley Railway, where she aims to contribute to enhancing a safe and enjoyable environment for all, while preserving our rich railway history.  

​

‘I’m sure you will join me in extending a warm SVR welcome to Sally, and please do say hello to her when you see her around the Railway.’  

Sally Hill.png

Vacancy for bodywork technician 

Paid staff vacancies.jpeg

This role will be primarily based in Kidderminster, and the successful candidate will carry out the examination, maintenance, overhaul and repair of heritage rolling stock to a high standard. 

​

For more information, please visit svr.co.uk

​

Apply with CV and covering letter to hr@svrlive.com. Closing date for applications: Friday 31 January 2025. 

v1 12th December 2024

Need to contact us?

Thanks for reading!

If you receive our monthly newsletter by email and wish to unsubscribe from our newsletter please click the link at the bottom of your email or alternatively use our contact form.

​

Any opinions or views expressed in this newsletter are entirely the opinions of the contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Directors of Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC. which owns the Severn Valley Railway, Severn Valley Railway Company Limited, the members of which are responsible for its operation, or the Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust.

bottom of page